Release Detail

December 15, 2005 - Voters Approve 2 - 1 Of Corzine's Choice Of Menendez,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
But Menendez-Kean Matchup Is Close

New Jersey voters approve 51 - 23 percent of Governor-elect Jon Corzine's choice of U.S. Rep.
Robert Menendez to serve the final year of Corzine's U.S. Senate term, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today. Another 26 percent are undecided.

But looking ahead to 2006, only 38 percent of Democrats say Menendez should run for a
full six-year Senate term, with 25 percent who want another candidate and 37 percent who are
undecided.

In a possible matchup for the 2006 Senate race, New Jersey voters give Menendez a
44 - 38 percent lead over State Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr.

"While voters support Governor-elect Corzine's choice of Congressman Robert Menendez
to serve out his Senate term, they have mixed feelings about the Congressman seeking a full six-
year term, probably because they don't know him that well," said Clay F. Richards, assistant
director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Just over a third of Democrats are ready to nominate Menendez for a full six-year
Senate term while the rest are undecided or would like to see someone else."

"But in a possible preview of the race that counts most, Menendez, bolstered by an 11
point margin among women, leads the likely GOP Senate choice, State Sen. Tom Kean, Jr.,"
Richards added.

Kean gets a 20 - 8 percent favorability, with 9 percent mixed and 61 percent who
haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Codey Approval

In his final weeks in office, acting Gov. Richard Codey gets a 71 - 10 percent approval
rating, the highest score for a New Jersey Governor in nine years of Quinnipiac University
polling. Even Republican voters give Codey a 67 - 18 percent approval.

From December 10 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 689 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points. The survey includes 261 Democrats with a margin
of error of +/- 6.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida and nationally as
a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks or call (203) 582-5201.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Codey is handling his job as
acting Governor?